Immigration

Middle East | Escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran — impact on travel and mobility 

Summary

​The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has led to widespread travel disruption, heightened security concerns, and rapidly changing government travel advisories across the region. Employers, employees, and their dependent family members should remain alert to official guidance on travel restrictions, airline suspensions, and local security developments. Staying informed and prepared is critical as the situation continues to evolve.

The detail

Over the last few days, airports and airspace in multiple countries across the Middle East have been closed or are experiencing restricted operations. Airspace closures have also disrupted the UAE-India corridor. Several European, Gulf, and Asian airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, Turkish Airlines, and Air Arabia, have suspended flights to Israel and neighbouring countries, including Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has suspended commercial operations, leaving an estimated 40,000 tourists stranded.

Governments around the world have responded with updated travel advisories:

• The U.S. Department of State has elevated Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to ongoing armed conflict, civil unrest, and the threat of terrorism.
• The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) now advises against all travel to Israel, with reports suggesting the UK is preparing for assisted departures of its citizens.
• Several countries including France, Ireland, Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands have issued similar guidance, urging nationals to avoid travel to the region or leave immediately where possible.
• Pakistan has closed land borders with Iran, and Jordan temporarily closed its airspace, impacting cross-border access.

In Cyprus, the Government has received evacuation assistance requests from Portugal and Slovakia, with nearby airports in Larnaca and Paphos serving as key diversion hubs for suspended flights.

While commercial air traffic to the UAE remains operational at the time of writing, travel disruption across the wider region continues to evolve quickly. Most governments now caution that changes to flight schedules and border access may occur with little or no warning.

Suggested actions 

Vialto Partners is actively monitoring the situation and recommends the following immediate steps for companies with mobile workforces in the region:

• Audit workforce presence: Identify all employees (including dependents) currently located in Iran, Israel and surrounding countries in the region. Ensure internal records reflect their nationalities, visa statuses, contact details, and any dual citizenship.
• Activate crisis communications: Ensure regular check-ins with all impacted individuals and relevant stakeholders within your organisation. Establish clear communication channels in case of sudden developments, including secure lines for emergency use.
• Register with Embassies: Foreign nationals should register their presence with their respective embassies or consular portals to receive security updates. For example, UK nationals will be able to use a Register Your Presence form (announced as of 16 June), while Australians are encouraged to register with the DFAT crisis portal.
• Review flight routes: Employees should avoid unnecessary travel across high-risk areas. For essential movements, confirm airline status and rerouting options through carriers that continue to operate in safer zones.
• Evaluate relocation and redeployment options: Companies should assess whether personnel and their families in the affected region can be temporarily redeployed to safer third-country locations. Vialto can advise on visa alternatives and immigration routes for short-term or emergency relocation.

At Vialto Partners, our crisis management team can guide and support you in relation to the above, and assist with any “country mapping” and analysis quickly and accurately.

Vialto support 

Vialto Partners’ crisis management team is closely tracking developments in coordination with our global immigration and mobility experts. We are available to support:

• Emergency travel and evacuation guidance
• Strategic redeployment planning and visa pathway analysis
• Direct liaison with immigration and consular authorities
• Ongoing alerts and updates as the situation evolves

We encourage clients to stay vigilant and ensure preparedness for rapid decision-making, especially where employee safety and immigration continuity may be impacted.

Contact us

For further details on the above, please reach out to your usual Vialto Partners contact or alternatively contact:

Anir Chatterji
Partner

Rekha Simpson
Director

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Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

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